The Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation provides critical perspectives on topics relevant to Information Systems Evaluation, with an emphasis on the organisational and management implications

Abstract

This study explores the various adoption criteria that may guide the information technology (IT) professionals in small business enterprises (SBEs) in their decision to adopt cloud‑based big data analytics (CBBDA). The research was guided by three major theories of technology adoption, which were: diffusion of innovation, theory of technology acceptance model, and the theory of technology‑organization‑environment framework. The study was based on a sample of 20 IT professionals from10 SBEs in the state of New Jersey in the United States. The exploratory qualitative research used semi‑structure questionnaires to conduct one‑on‑one interviews with the participants. The results were coded to identify the emergent themes. The study found two categories of CBBDA adoption criteria; they were: (a) internal technology adoption criteria, which were found to be unique to each SBE and (b) external technology adoption criteria, which were found to be uniform to all the SBEs. The internal criteria consisted of technological and organizational factors, while the external criteria consisted of vendor‑related and environmental factors. Further, the study found that some of the prominent internal factors played a dominant role in CBBDA adoption in SBEs. They were: (a) technology/organization alignment and fit; (b) SBE data environment and need; (c) SBE financial standing and (d) SBE owner/top management support. It was also found that no matter how useful the innovation, the lack of SBE owner/top management support can easily obstruct the adoption of CBBDA and other similar future technology.

Abstract

The growing repository of learning resources on the internet provides a ubiquitous opportunity for learning. Worldwide, millions of learners leverage open learning resources (OLRs) to acquire knowledge and skills. Students in academic settings are ardent users of OLRs such as MOOCs and OERs. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors influencing voluntary acceptance of OLRs by higher education students for complementing learning in the Indian context. The study also proposes a measurement scale for OLRs self‑efficacy (OSE). This study extends and validates the innovation diffusion theory (IDT). The integrated research model reflects the effects of relative advantage, compatibility, OSE, subjective norm and facilitating conditions on acceptance of OLRs. Online survey data from 457 technical students in India were used for analysis using structural equation modeling. Results suggest that while relative advantage, compatibility, OSE and the subjective norm significantly impact intention to use OLRs, effect of facilitating conditions is not significant. Compatibility and OSE also significantly impact relative advantage. The proposed measure of OSE has valid psychometric properties. This study has advanced knowledge on the phenomenon of voluntary acceptance of OLRs from the perspective of students in traditional academic settings in a developing country context by extending and validating IDT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to understand the acceptance of OLRs by students in India. This study also provides a measure for OSE. The relative advantage mediating the effect of OSE on intention is confirmed by the results, which is scarcely tested before empirically. The study has practical implications for policy makers and teachers in a developing country to provide a more contextual learning environment to the students.

Abstract

Social media (SM) is driving innovations in both individual and business lifestyles, unleashing new opportunities and spurring new business models. Chinese businesses, in particular, have seized upon the opportunity of integrating SM in innovative ways of business delivery. Yet there is little formal knowledge on this subject. The purpose of this research, therefore, is to empirically identify some of these SM‑enabled business innovations in a Chinese context to develop fundamental knowledge and to build an evidence‑based platform for understanding the motivation for adopting SM for business innovations. Qualitative data collected through semi‑structured interviews with industry experts were analysed using content analysis techniques. The study finds that SM is enabling innovations in business including: (1) developments of social media market territories that are used by organizations for gathering market intelligence as well as for promoting products/services, (2) strategic engagements that are being used not only for tapping into diverse wisdom but also as a means of cultivating communities and enhancing product/service awareness before their launch, (3) quicker promotion to productivity, (4) development of socialized commerce activities based on new S‑Channels, and (5) development of social media market intermediaries. Academically, the results extend innovation theories in a SM‑oriented technological innovations context and identify some of the factors that could influence the adoption stage as in more general innovation theory. Managerially, the results could be valuable for strategising adoption of SM‑enabled business innovation and tapping into the opportunities of social commerce and development of S‑Channels.

Abstract

For years software developers globally have struggled in their attempts to deliver high quality software products. In an effort to overcome the problem, there is a widely held view that people, process maturity and technology are the main determinants of software quality and information systems (IS) success. The researcher conducted a survey in Canada among software developers, which confirmed the notion that people, process maturity and technology are determinants of software quality and also that software quality and user perception are determinants of information systems success. In an attempt to gain deeper insights, a series of interviews were conducted among Canadian developers to identify other contributing factors to software quality and information systems success. The interviews revealed that organization climate, user training and education, expectation management and technical support can influence the quality and success of the delivered software product. Such insights can enhance the competitiveness of these firms.

Abstract

This study investigates the impact created upon firm value when social media, in an emerging market context. Social media enables communication with stakeholders in terms of financial and non‑financial achievements, as well as issues of organization at low cost, in a direct and timely manner; thus, the study draws attention to the new phenomenon of enhanced value to firms through the use of social media. The sample consists of Turkish corporations listed on the BIST 100 Index of Borsa Istanbul for the year 2014, utilizing three metrics regarding social media usage: establishment of a social media account, the breadth of social media engagement, and the depth of social media engagement. The results demonstrate that depth of social media engagement has a significant positive association with firm value; whereas social media account ownership per se, and breadth of social media engagement do not show a viable statistical relationship. These findings imply that if social media accounts are opened and icons for several social media are placed on corporate websites, which is presently a fad and fashion, a benefit may not necessarily accrue. However, strong engagement for corporate purposes will generate the desired results and benefits. Thus, the study provides implications and guidance for firms which are using social media currently or thinking of using it in the future.

Abstract

Over the past decade, organizations have made important investments in enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. However, despite huge investments, many ERP projects failed to achieve corporate goals and led companies to financial difficulties. Accordingly, an appropriate choice of method for ERP success evaluation is much needed. Assessing post‑implementation success of ERP systems from the perspective of individual users is crucial because underachievement of the implemented ERP systems may be due in part to underutilization of the systems by the users. User satisfaction is regarded as being one of the most important constructs to evaluate the success of an ERP system from a user perspective. Many conceptualizations are proposed in the literature to measure this construct. From these, the End User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) instrument developed by Doll & Torkzadeh (1988) seems to be the most appropriate regarding the unique context of ERP systems. Many reported ERP failures and the lack in agreement as to the way to evaluate their contribution to enterprise performance, have led us to conduct an empirical investigation of user satisfaction with several ERP systems. Empirical data was collected using a survey questionnaire which was distributed to ERP users working in four large Tunisian industrial groups. A total of 174 responses were collected and analyzed using structural equation modeling. This study offers a new conceptualisation of ERP user satisfaction. We identify two underlying components of satisfaction: satisfaction with ERP technological features and satisfaction with its content. The findings of this study are useful to IT managers and directors by helping them to evaluate the key components of ERP user satisfaction and then to choose the appropriate ERP for their organization, and also to act separately on one or both of these two components to improve overall satisfaction. Managers should consider, on the one hand, the intrinsic attributes of the system such as user‑friendly interface, easy to use features and presentation quality of the screen and, on the other hand, the quality of information content and its fit with the task supported.

Abstract

This study explains a deeper understanding of the effectiveness of social media sites on different parameters of consumer buying behavior. It estimated the relationship between several independent variables such as composite buying behavior, usual buying behavior, and variety‑seeking buying behavior, disagreement buying behavior, impetuous buying behavior and consumer buying behavior as dependent variable in the electronic appliances market. The study focused to determine the factors affecting consumer preference and behavior in the Indian electronic market. This study majorly focused on the young working women using electronics product across Maharashtra in India. The data collected from 1272 working women. The major findings of the study indicates there is the positive effect of social media on variety seeking buying behavior, disagreement buying behavior , usual buying behavior, composite buying behavior and impetuous buying behavior. This study helps producers and retailers in understanding consumers buying behavior towards electronics appliances and also helps in improving the customer satisfaction.